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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have become the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their wedding day.

The Queen bestowed the dukedom on her grandson this morning, with his wife-to-be automatically becoming a duchess to his duke.

Prince Harry was also given Scottish and Northern Irish titles, becoming the Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel.

As the fountain of honour in the UK, the Queen has the sole right of conferring all titles of honour, including life peerages, knighthoods and gallantry awards.

A statement said: "The Queen has today been pleased to confer a Dukedom on Prince Henry of Wales. His titles will be Duke of Sussex, Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel.

"Prince Harry thus becomes His Royal Highness The Duke of Sussex, and Ms. Meghan Markle on marriage will become Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Sussex."

There has only been one previous Duke of Sussex, Prince Augustus Frederick, the sixth son of King George III and Queen Charlotte.

He had the title conferred upon him at his birth in 1801.

However, his two children did not inherit the title because both his marriages were in contravention of the Royal Marriages Act, as his father did not approve of the women's standings, making the children illegitimate.

Like Harry, he married for love rather than choosing a bride of royal lineage.

Because neither of his marriages were approved by King George III, there has never been a Duchess of Sussex before, meaning Meghan is the first.

Notably, the first Duke of Sussex was appointed Governor of Windsor Castle in 1842 by his niece, Queen Victoria, who said he was her favourite uncle.

Sky News royal commentator Alastair Bruce said the first Duke of Sussex gave Queen Victoria away at her wedding to Prince Albert.

"He was well known for wearing a little black hat, which was to cover his bald patch," he added.

"In the old days the reason princes were made dukes when they married was because they needed a dukedom, which would provide them with an income from the land.

"The Duke of Sussex would have collected rent from those who lived in Sussex.

"But now they obviously don't do that anymore."

Charles Kidd, editor of Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage, said the Queen was limited in the titles available, and some had a doomed history.